Inspirational Leadership – Part 2

Why do inspirational leaders speak in a voice that is both powerful and captivating?

Maybe it is because they are true, authentic and confident, even when they are under pressure, even when they are not in a great situation.

I asked this question to someone I consider a great leader in the adidas Group: “How do you handle the stress and still be a good leader?”

I expected him to pretend he didn’t have any stress and thoroughly enjoys his work and his life all the time. Instead, he gave me a very simple answer. He said; “Live with it.”

I happen to know that this person deals with a lot of stress. There’s the pressure and the burden to deliver on numbers, KPIs, cost savings, and the rest. But I was still very surprised that he didn’t pretend or try to hide it. Just live with it.

And to me, that’s one of the qualities of great leadership: be authentic.
It’s a worthy question for each of us.
What does authenticity look like for you?
How can you be more authentic in your life, at work or home?

Post your thoughts here.

Also, if you want to read more about Inspirational Leadership, have a look at a previous blog post.